Tradition Seven
Every group ought to be fully self‑supporting, declining outside contributions.
Please share your experience, strength, and hope as it relates to Tradition 7. The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the person who gave them. Take what you liked and leave the rest. Member sharing on the Member Blog may be used in future Al‑Anon publications.
I already shared on Tradition Seven with the monthly topic. What I can add is that Tradition Seven has shown me gratitude and honesty. Because of all received in Al-Anon, I can show my gratitude by contributing financially to all the zoom meetings I attend. I can also contribute in serving in those groups by attending those meetings, sharing, and sponsoring members. I can also be there to transmit the message of hope for the ones who are not with us as yet, but whose lives have been affected by this baffling disease. Tradition Seven has also taught me great… Read more »
I was taught that you never ask for help. Regardless of my situation, I always had to appear self-supporting. I worked very hard to be financially self-supporting but I accepted outside contributions in the form of other people’s criticism, being made to feel less-than, ugly, and worthless. Al-Anon has taught me that I can be self- supportive in my own spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. I don’t need to accept outside contributions that are negative, that destroy my self confidence, that diminish my potential. I can bring these tools into my meeting, and I can apply them in my family… Read more »
Before coming to Al-Anon I was not self-supporting. I was inclined to accept outside contributions. I was living above my means, in order to show off how great I was, by showing props. I felt I had nothing to offer as a person, so the props made up for it. Upon looking and studying Tradition Seven I came to realise that I should be financially self-supporting. I had to accept and appreciate what I had and needed and forget about going for all I wanted. It was a process, but I went through it by putting into action the Three… Read more »
Tradition Seven is quite clear for the groups and in our documentation spells it out as to why this Tradition exists for the unity and the welfare of the groups.. Tradition Seven also applies to my life, now that I pay attention to it. I was, from the time I started to work, able to be self-supporting. However, this self-supporting included mainly what I needed. My wants could not always be fulfilled. I felt frustrated and felt that life was treating me unfairly. I chose to resort to getting into debts, borrowing money to give me what I felt should… Read more »
One thing I learned from Tradition Seven is that if I do offer help to others, it needs to be without strings attached. I need to check my motives carefully and make sure I’m not trying to control that person with my help. My alcoholic dad used to do this. He used his money to control others. He didn’t expect to be paid back with cash, but with compliance. Accepting his help meant I had to do what he wanted. I couldn’t take it. I ended up dropping out of college until I could pay for it myself 13 years… Read more »
Tradition Seven has taught me to better know what is acceptable and unacceptable for me and what I want out of life. I have also learned, over the years, to be able to take care of my own needs without the help of others, remembering that my needs are important, but my wants not so much. Although, this is not perfectly achieved, there has been great progress. Now, I am facing less false fears, financial insecurities and needless anxiety over things I cannot change and things that might never happen. Tradition Seven has helped to gain my independence, some self-respect… Read more »
During the first part of the pandemic, I received more unemployment money than I would have made were I working the six and a half weeks my business was shut down. I had to sort through what to do with the funds. I wondered if the government made a mistake and overpaid me. It’s hard to know because getting assistance at all was such a complicated and confusing process. I did the research to make sure this was the money I was indeed meant to have. Then, I wrestled with what is a prudent reserve in these uncertain times. And… Read more »
Tradition Seven is one that has helped me the most in regard to self-supporting, in many areas of my life. I was in denial, for quite a few 24 hours, of my dependence on others emotionally, spiritually and financially. Even though, I depicted myself as an independent and self-assured woman, strong and capable of many things, inside I was a fearful and insecure with no self-esteem little child, in the body of an adult. I was seeking love at the wrong places, making emotional compromises to be loved and accepted, not taking care of my spiritual life and managing money… Read more »
When I came to Al-Anon, I thought Steps are for me and Traditions are useful in my Al-Anon group. I never thought of using these Traditions in my life. One day I listened and understood that I am a part of group when I’m at home or the workplace. When two or three persons work collectively, a group is formed and I can use Traditions there i.e “in all our affairs.” Seventh Tradition tells that every group should be self supporting in all matters; not only in financial but in cases of service and sharing. Each service makes me humble… Read more »